8.

The Dirac Delta Function (The Unit Impulse Function)

In signal processing, mechanics and many other important
areas of applications, the idea of a very large signal/force acting
for a very short time, such that the time integral of this
signal/force is finite, is well known. This time integral of the
signal/force is known as the impulse. This idea can be used in
many branches of engineering.

8.A Definition
Consider a function f(t)  (t) , defined by :
f(t) f(t)
1
1 


0  t 0 2 t
1 t 0


f (t )  (t ) = 

0 Otherwise

Where:
  is very small, and no matter how small  it is.
 b

−
 (t ) dt = 1 =  (t ) dt = 1
a
iff a  0  b

Now:
as  → 0 we have f (t ) →  at “t = 0” and “f(t) = 0” everywhere else.

Hence:
The Dirac Delta function  is defined as the limiting function of f(t)
when → 0

 at t = 0
i.e. (t ) = 
0 everywhere else other than t = 0


Laplace Transform: “Dirac-Delta Function” / 40. / Dr. Eng. Moustafa Reda A. Eltantawi
 8.B Some Important Properties of the Dirac Delta
Function

8.B.1 The Laplace Transform of the Dirac-Delta function


  1 − st 

 (t )  =  (t )e
L  dt = Lim→0   e d +  dt 
− st
0
0 0   
 −s 
 1 −st  1 −e
= Lim→0  e  = Lim→0
s  0 s 
1   ( s )2 
= Lim→0 1 −  1 − s  + + ...  
s   2! 
 s  ( s ) ( s )2 
= Lim→0  − + − ...  = 1
s  2! 3! 

Then :
L 
 (t )  = 1

8.B.2 If the Dirac-Delta function is shifted a

distance  along the positive t-axis, then according
to the second shift theorem we have :
 at t = 
(t − ) =   (t − ) u (t − )
0 elsewhere
 L (t − ) = L (t − ) u (t − ) = e −s L [ (t )] = e −s * 1 = e − S

Then :
s
L −1 e −  = (t − ) & L −1 Cons tan t * e −s  = Cons tan t * (t − )

N.B. :

1. if =0  L (t ) = e 0 = 1

 b
2.  (t
−
− c )dt = 1 =  (t − c )dt = 1
a
iff a  c b

Laplace Transform: “Dirac-Delta Function” / 41. / Dr. Eng. Moustafa Reda A. Eltantawi
 N.B.
As shown in the figures 3.50.a- c , given below,

1


 t

+ 
t
− 1
1


One has: c
t
 
(t −  ) = Lim → 0  u(t −  ) − u(t − ( + ))
1
 
 1  e − s e −(  +) s    1  e − s − e −(  +) s  
L (t −  )= Lim → 0   −  = Lim → 0   
   s s    s    
 1  0 − ( −s ) e −(  +) s   −s
= Lim → 0    = e
 s  1  

8.B.3 The Dirac-Delta function is the time derivative

of the unit step function .
d
i.e. (t ) = u(t )
dt
Proof :
Consider again the figures “A, B, and C” shown above. The Dirac-
Delta function can be expressed as a combination of two unit step
functions very near to each other as :

(t − ) = Lim → 0 1 u (t − ) − u (t − ( + ))  

u (t − ) − u [(t − ) − )]  d
= Lim → 0  = u (t − ) = u (t − )
   dt
Also, one has
1   u(t ) − u(t − )  d
 (t ) = Lim→ 0  u(t ) − u(t −) = Lim→ 0   = u(t ) = u (t )
     dt
N.B.
1
 L u (t )  = s L u (t )  − u (0)  = s   − 0 = 1 = L (t ) 
  
s 

Laplace Transform: “Dirac-Delta Function” / 42. / Dr. Eng. Moustafa Reda A. Eltantawi
 8.B.4 The Shifting Property Of (t − a)
Where : (t − a)


 f (t ) (t − a) dt = f (a) 1

t = a+
− f(t)
Proof :

a+ 

−
f (t ) (t − a ) dt
t
a a+  t

 a a +   
 
= Lim → 0 


0
−
+
 f ( t ) ( t − a )
a
dt +
0

a + 
a + a +

= Lim → 0
 f (t) (t − a) dt = Lim
a
→ 0 f (a +  )
 (t − a) dt
a
= Lim → 0 f (a +  ) * 1 = f (a ) 0    1
The whole effect is for (t − a ) such that we can directly assume: f (t )  f ( a )

Illustrative Examples

    1 
 cos 2t  t −  dt = cos  2  = − & since: a = & f(t) = cos 2 t
−  3  3 2 3
In general one may have :

 f (c ) iff a  c  b
b

 f (t ) (t − c ) dt = 
a 
 0 otherwise


8.B.5 
Shifting Property of  ` (t − a) : f (t ) (t − a )dt = − f ( a )
0
Proof :
 


0
f (t ) (t − a )dt = (t − a ) f (t ) 0 −  (t − a ) f (t )dt
0

=0 −  (t
−
− a ) f (t )dt = − f ( a )

N.B. (we made use of

(t − a ) is zero everywhere except at t = a. the previous
property)
Laplace Transform: “Dirac-Delta Function” / 43. / Dr. Eng. Moustafa Reda A. Eltantawi
 Illustrative Examples


−4t
1. Evaluate e (t − 2)dt
0


I e (t − 2)dt
−4t
=
0

d 
=− (e −4t )  = − * ( −4e −4t )
dt t =2 t =2

= 4e −8 (a = 2 & f (t ) = e −4t )

2. Solve the D.E. :

y ( t ) + 4 y(t) + 3y(t) = u(t-3) +  (t-1 ) & y(0)= y (0) = 0
Taking L.T. of the given D.E.
e −3 s
2
 s Y(s) + 4sY (s) + 3Y(s)= + e −s
s
1
 ( s 2 + 4s + 3 )Y(s) = e −3 s + e − s
s
− 3 s
e e −s
Y(s) = +
s ( s + 1)( s + 3) ( s + 1)( s + 3)
1 -1 1   1 1 
3 2 6   2 2 
= e −3 s  + +  +e
−s
−
s +1 s + 3
s s +1 s + 3  
   
1 1 1 −3 (t − 3 ) 
y(t) = u(t – 3)  − e−(t − 3 ) + e 
3 2 6 
+ u(t – 1)
2
e 
1 −(t −1 ) 1 −3 (t −1 )
− e
2 

Laplace Transform: “Dirac-Delta Function” / 44. / Dr. Eng. Moustafa Reda A. Eltantawi